Plenty of svideo inputs, optical digital ins. Great quality of the amplifier

The remote could be better ... now one has to turn the selector a lot to choose the unit he wants to command. At least for faster usage all the options could be visible all the time - not only the current one.

(also known as HTR-5250)
The greatest amplifier for the money. It made my Klipsches
sound terrific. Perfect sound.

Now my story - I found an offer for $365, printed it and went to GoodGuys (10831 Pico Blvd, West LA, CA 90024) store which is close to where I live - the official price was $499. The sales person told me I have to buy it for the full price and then they will give me a rebate for the difference of the pricematch but I have to go there the next day. So I got it. The next day went back but nothing happened and they said to come again the next day. Finally at the third day a manager (little old, little skinny, little longer&white hair guy) got my printout and started shouting that this price was impossible, the other company is impostor and sells damaged receivers with changed power supplys (just his thoughts of course), etc, etc. Imagine that - shouting at a customer, lost me half an hour for nothing and no price match.
The same day at my noon break I visited the Sears store near my work - they made the pricematch instantly and sold me the same Yamaha brand new, never opened for $365 - it took 10 minutes total.
The next day I returned the original one back to GoodGuys and they lost me as a custmer forever - 4 days spoiled there for nothing.
The conclusion - NEVER BUY from GOODGUYS store
Thank you Sears for the great service! Thank you Yamaha for the great receiver!

Similar Products Used:

The conclusion - NEVER BUY from a GOODGUYS store!

There are plenty of inputs including optical digital in for Cable/Sat, DVD, DTV. This receiver allows you to send all low frequency to sub, so main speaker is dedicated to mid and high frequencies. The sound becomes more clear with out any low end distortion.

I wish the surround speakers had banana plugs like the main speakers. The remote should have a built in light feature.

I would highly recommend this receiver. The DTS processor is outstanding. There is very low THD, slightly better than my Denon. I currently use HDTV and the Dolby Digital is outstanding. Best of all, I paid only $250 at the Goodguys. Go to their website, there's no tax or shipping! 2 thumbs up!

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Denon AVR-1600

Clean sound, under-rated watts, great surround sound

No glaring weaknesses.

There shouldn't be one review under 4 stars for this receiver. Don't believe them if they are. The Yamaha 5250 puts out loud, clean sound and the surround sound is awesome! If you want a $1500 stereo, go get one. If you want the best deal for under $500, get this one. You won't be sorry.

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Sony

DSP in spades, power galore, runs cool, decent soundstage and imaging.

The idiots that posted negative reviews

I was sickened by the fools that posted several bad reviews so I was compelled to add an update. First, for all those reviewers that had a faulty unit, pull your head out of your ass. If a unit was not functioning it was due to either hooking it up wrong or it was bad from the factory. How does this equate to a bad review for the sound and features? If it was not working then there is no way to make a fair assessment, HOW DID YOU CRITICALLY EVALUATE THE SOUND IF IT WASN'T WORKING?

Second, go waste your money on an overpriced Denon since they got all the great reviews. I'd like to see your review of a that unit...probably good cause you paid more like the sucker you are. The salesman should kick you off your dumbass chair and beat you with a bat.

Thirdly, let me stress that I do not claim to be an expert on anything but I do have a ears like everyone else. This is great receiver for the price. The argument is how much quality can you get for a reasonable price. The Yamaha actually goes above and beyond my expectations for a $300-400 receiver.

Finally, for the complete moron that went and bought the 5280 and dogged the 5250 unit....you take the idiot cake. I own a Mustang GT but don't rag all the LX owners cause they don't have all the features I do. Let me suggest that people also stop posting COMPARISONS OF THE MODEL RV/RX LINE vs. THE HTR LINE without someone posting LISTENING COMPARISONS. People embrace an irrelevant argument about useless information. Show me one of these jerks that acutually did a side by side critical listening comparison and shocked us with an intellectual review.

PEACE

Similar Products Used:

sony, pioneer elite, kenwood

Good Quality sound!!!

The remote is a disaster!! Very confusing to operate.

I really like the receiver it was a good buy for the money. My only complaint is the remote it took a long time to figure out!!!

Great DSP

WARNING: My model had reversed polarity on both rear channel outputs. Also, uses chincey connection clips for rear speaker wires. Returned for 5280, vastly superior.

WARNING: My model had reversed polarity on both rear channel outputs. Also, uses chincey connection clips for rear speaker wires. Returned for 5280, vastly superior.

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5280

Regarding the differences between the HTR and RX-V lines, saw this on the section for the RX-V800. Posted by Don Allen. He sold me. I saved $130.

--- Begin Post by Don Allen ---

I just returned from a corporate trip to the 2001 International CES show in Las Vegas, NV. After taking care of my corporate business, I spent some time at the Yamaha Electronics Corporation booth (Booth 341, LVCC South 3-5) on Saturday afternoon, January 6, 2001. I had previously bought an RX-V800 from a local hi-fi dealer who has been a friend of mine for many years. Nevertheless, I've always been intrigued by the purported differences (component quality, build quality, etc.) between the RX-V and HTR- lines of Yamaha A/V receivers. Since I was at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), I wanted to speak to someone to get the straight and official story on this. Hopefully, this post will put an end to this speculation.

I spoke to Mr. Kenji Togawa, Marketing Planning Manager of Yamaha Electonics Corporation, on this subject. My exact question to Mr. Togawa was as follows: "Are there any differences between the RX-V line and the HTR- line of Yamaha A/V receivers?" His answer was this: "Yes, there is a difference. However, the "one and only" difference is the model numbers used on the product. Otherwise, the receivers are built in the same manufacturing facility, with the same components, and with the same quality control inspectors."

He went on to say: "When we introduced Yamaha A/V products to the mass merchandise channel, i.e. Best Buy, Sears, Internet sales sites, etc., our "Specialists" (NOTE: Mr. Togawa's term -- i.e., Authorized Yamaha Dealers) requested us to change the equivalent model numbers of the receivers distributed into the mass merchandise channel. This request was implemented to support our "Specialists," otherwise the receivers are exactly the same." He specifically pointed to the RX-V800 and said: "This model is known as the HTR-5280 in the mass merchandise channel."

That being said, however, Mr. Togawa also stated that "there currently is no HTR- equivalent in the mass merchandise channel for the RX-V1000, RX-V3000, or Yamaha's flagship A/V receiver, the RX-V1. The RX-V800 equivalent --the HTR-5280 -- is currently the top-of-the-line HTR- series available."

At the show, Yamaha introduced several new A/V receiver models, all of the RX-V line. Hopefully, these new models will show up in their HTR- line soon. The new models are positioned with a lower price point than the RX-V800.

Mr. Togawa was very forthcoming, and honest, with all of my questions. And, he consulted with one of Yamaha's chief design engineers, based in Japan, on some of my questions. He answered my questions without any hesitation, which, I found very refreshing in the world of A/V and hi-fi where "snake oil salesmen" are everywhere!

Please feel free to e-mail me on this if anyone has any further questions.

Don Allen W9CW
Urbana, IL

--- End Post By Don Allen ---

Wonderful sound. Juice to spare. The DSP is wonderful (see comment section).

Remote is byzantine. This is a VERY MINOR issue. Crappy sound would be a MAJOR issue

First off - many thanks to everyone who have posted to this board. Your advice is top drawer, and lead me in the right direction.
-----------
My comments will center on my experience. Others have done a wonderful job on the ruggedness, pros, cons, inputs, power, etc..

Upgraded from a Sony mid-grade consumer Pro Logic Receiver to the 5250.

So here is my system:
Receiver: Yamama 5250
DVD: Sony DVP S360
Speakers: Definitive Technology Pro Monitors 100s all around, with the Def Tech 100 sub
Component Cables: Monster
Speaker Wire: Monster

AUDIO APPLICATIONS
------------------
Here is where I can make the best comparisons. The Yamaha has wonderful sound. Jaw dropping lushness. Truly wonderful. It is a little thin on the bass compared to my old Sony, but a little tweaking on the Sub crossovers made up for that. Some reviewers thought the receiver was a little bright. That did not come through on my Def Techs.

Always thought DSP was marketing eye-candy... UNTIL I played Ella Fitzgerald's "You'll Have to Swing It (Mr. Paganini)", the 1961 version recorded at the Crescendo, Hollywood. With no DSP, it is a wonderful live recording. WITH DSP set on Concert mode, I was projected 30 feet back into the club! It was startling. I'm serious, I closed my eyes, and it sounded like I was there.

OK. So I put in the sountrack to Robert Altman's "Kansas City." The recording and production value of the album is phenominal and as close to being in a club as I have heard. But it is not the same as being there. Turned on the Concert mode, and the same thing happened. Suddenly I was IN the club.

Just to be sure, I played Dave Mathew's "Satellite" and "Ants Marching." I have been to 4 of his concerts, and with DSP, that is what the CD sounded like.

Played some Beastie Boys and Lords of Acid to test the bass. The bass licks came across tight and deep. Very nice. Reverb in the DSP modes turned the bass licks a little muddy, so I keep the DSP off in this case.

For audio applications the 5250 is very good. The DSP is really quite special sonic kung-fu.

DVD/DST APPLICATIONS
--------------------
Had to go to the Holy Grail of DVD's, The Matrix. Sound was great. Bullets flying everywhere. Great separation. Have seen/heard it on Pro-Logic VHS, and the difference is stunning. The damping makes the receiver go from loud to quiet VERY quickly. You will notice it.

Then on to T2. You know the part at the beginning where the robot steps on the skull? That comes BLASTING through loud, clear, and accurately. The depth of the power supply mated with good speakers make it a different movie, sonically. You have to hear the Theater modes.

Raw power is one thing, but subtelty is another. Enter 'The Sixth Sense.' The hushed conversations, and the background music all came across well.

CONCLUSION:
-----------
This is a great receiver. Juice to spare. The power, independent 5.1 inputs (for whatever the next home theater standard becomes), tonality, and build quality promise this to be my receiver for a long time. This is a great receiver, and a great performance/value/longevity proposition. If you are upgrading into this price range ($500 list price, $370 street price), audition this receiver.

If you are buying into or upgrading your whole system, give the Yamaha / Def Tech ProCinema a test-drive. The buy-in price is steep at $1,500. I think that is a lot of money. But if you are into music and home theater, it is a great combination, and honestly sounds like three grand or more. I have gome back to hi-fi shops and tested 3-4 grand systems, and I am not missing a thing. Lush, expansive, powerful sound that will fill big rooms, and satisfy you for years.

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Sony mid-grade consumer Pro Logic Receiver

Plenty of inputs, Good power, Yamaha's excellent sound fields

Dim display, poor connection for FM antenna wire, remote takes a little getting used

This Yamaha is a very good unit for the price. Yes, the remote control is a popular negative for the unit, but all of us into this electronic stuff can figure it out - really not bad once you get used to it.
I was disappointed with the supplied FM wire antenna. It is a poor connection to the back of the unit and I have changed it out for a Terk antenna.
The power from this Yamaha is excellent. It really pushes my KEF's to a level that is superb when cranking it up. Plenty of power! At nominal listening levels it is very smooth and clean. I generally listen to rock & roll at nominal to higher levels, and this Yamaha delivers.
The digital surround is also amazing. I have a Toshiba DVD player and this Yamaha really makes watching the movies enjoyable. I have an average sized room and the Yamaha does a good job pumping enough juice to all the speakers. Excellent separation to all speakers.
Although I'm not an audio purist and knowing this unit is not a true high-end machine, it is defintely an excellent choice for those who want quality performance at a reasonable price.
Kudos to Onecall for good service.

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KEF C75 mains, KEF 100c center, Boston Acoustics surround, Klipsch KSW10

Good power and THD numbers, Great DSP choices (all can be
customized) excellent quality for the price.

The remote. I thought I could get used to it and although it is very flexible in it's features, it is at times, a nightmare to use. There are 2 positions on the wheel for DVD functions and it's a real pain to try and remember which position controls which functions. Besides...my wife hates it! Also lacks video switching which I learned the hard way. I have to connect my VCR to a separate video input because it doesn't have an S-video out. The manual doesn't spell this out!

At the time that I purchased my Toshiba 1600 I swore that, due to the reveiws on this site, that I would be buying a Yamaha 596a to go with it. When I could purchase the 5250 for a few bucks more I went for the higher power rating and a few more features. I am not disappointed. The Dolby digital and DTS sound fields are wide and deep and the DSP features vary enough to satisfy the most critical ear. They are preset but certain aspects can be customized and saved, so don't be afraid to scroll through them in any given mode until you hear what you want ignoring the title. Some of the DSP fields echo too much depending on the source so what sounds good on one TV channel my sound terrible on another, that's how sensitive they are. I have never been unable to find a pleasing DSP effect even if it's un-enhanced Prologic.

I don't listen to a lot of music but, like the home theater DPS effects, I have always found one of them pleasing to the ear.

Please take the time to do a proper speaker setup, you will be pleased and surprised at what you hear! I thought my JVC prologic receiver sounded good, but after listening to a source the way it was intended to sound it would no longer be acceptable. I credit the separate channel amplifiers for this and is a part of Yamaha quality specs. I mean really...100W at 0.8 THD (my old JVC662VBK). I don't know what I was thinking! Actually I do 'cause at the time I bought it, AC-3 (old designation for Dolby Digital) was just coming out and for me the cost was prohibitive. I'm glad I waited for the price drop.
If your looking for a reasonably priced high performer, the 5250 is for you. Folks, it's time. Find it, buy it before the 5250 is gone.

P.S. Use in a well ventilated area, I had to add an exhaust fan to the confined space I keep all my equipment in. While it doesn't run real hot it kicked of on me once when everything in the cabinet was running...Theo

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Replaces an old JVC 662VBK